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Chapter 8 Fated to Pretend: Changes

Two nights later Josef requested that Kira stop by his office. She went, curious to see what his response to Mick's current condition would be. There was no doubt that her sire now knew that Mick had taken the compound.

She stepped out of the elevator, into the rubble that was now part bomb blast and part reconstruction and smiled at Josef, bent over his construction plans.

"So this is how you've been spending your nights. I've missed you dropping by the club," she said winding her way carefully through the debris.

"Sweetheart, you are prompt," Josef beamed as he looked up. Kira was looking particularly lovely tonight, in dark jeans, a chocolate shirt and black leather jacket. Her short hair brushed the upturned collar of the jacket.

"You don't summon me all that often anymore. I had to come and see what you wanted," she said grinning.

"Did I sound that demanding?" Josef asked as he came around the table and kissed her cheek affectionately.

"You forgot to say please," Kira chuckled. "So what is bothering you Josef dear? Do you need decorating advice?"

"No my girl, maybe later. I want to discuss Mick and this interesting little twist that has occurred," Josef said guiding her to a chair so she could sit. He perched on a stack of lumber and looked at her intently.

"He's human Josef, what is there to discuss? I've never seen him so happy," she added.

"It won't last," Josef said harshly. "And then we will have a brooding vampire on our hands again."

"But he has Beth now. And she is free to follow her heart," Kira reminded him.

"If he does anything about it. The boy is sometimes too dense for his own good," Josef grumbled but the underlying affection in his voice was clear to Kira. She knew him well enough to know that he wasn't angry about Mick's experiment with humanity.

"We are here for him Josef."

"Yes…..yes we are. Let's hope he appreciates it," Josef said with a tight smile.

"You don't fool me in the least Josef Kostan," Kira chided. "You are happy for Mick and you know it. We both want him happy and maybe that is enough for now."

"You are a dreamer, my pet," Josef said going to her and kissing her lightly on the forehead. He held her face in his hands and shook his head. "When he reverts he will be back to his old, gloomy self."

Kira covered his hands with hers and smiled at him fondly.

"We will be supportive Josef. Mick knows he can count on us. We will help him through it," she answered.

Josef took her hands in his and gazed at her warmly.

"You always see the best side. You are right; we will get him through this mess. Let's hope that Blondie doesn't let him down."

"I don't think we have to worry about Beth. She cares more for Mick than I think even she realizes. If Mick opens the door I think she'll walk through," Kira observed.

"It will be interesting," Josef nodded and walked back to his renovation plans. Kira rose and followed him.

"Now my darling, show me how the renovations are shaping up," she said, looking at the blueprints.

*****

Four nights later Kira's phone rang early in the evening.

"Kira, is Mick there?" Josef demanded without a greeting.

"No Josef, I haven't see Mick in several days. Why?" she asked in concern.

"Guillermo just called me. Beth has been kidnapped and Mick is planning on rescuing her. He's going up against vampires."

"No," Kira breathed. "We can't let that happen."

"I'm heading to Mick's. If he stops at your place, keep him there."

"Josef, I can help Beth….."

"No! I need you there in case I miss Mick. He may come to you for help," Josef ordered.

"Yes sir," Kira growled under her breath and hung up.

*****

After a frustrating evening of waiting to hear something, Kira closed up the club and headed to her office. She recognized Josef's scent before she stepped inside and found Josef sitting on the couch staring at the monitors. The look on his face gave Kira a sinking feeling inside.

"Josef, what happened?" she asked crossing the room to sit beside him. "Is Beth safe?"

"Blondie is fine," he said shortly. "ADA Talbot as well. Everything is just peachy." He continued to avoid her gaze. Kira felt her insides clench in fear.

"Mick…..?" she whispered, afraid to finish her sentence.

"He's perfectly fine. Once more among the undead," Josef snapped.

"Oh no," Kira sighed, although relief flooded through her to know Mick wasn't dead. "It wore off all ready? It hasn't even been a full week."

"It didn't wear off, I turned him back," Josef said brusquely.

"You did what?" Kira gasped. "Josef, why?"

"The fool was going to take on the vamps by himself. I showed him how suicidal that was and he agreed with me. Then he begged me to turn him." Josef finally met her eyes, his brown ones filled with pain at the memory. "Kira, I tried to refuse but he was going to save "his Beth" no matter what I did. He called me brother."

Kira wrapped her arms around him and held him close. The raw note in his voice broke her heart. She could understand how difficult it would have been for Josef to refuse Mick's desperate plea. He was not happy with what he had done. She kissed his cheek.

"You did the right thing. I would have done the same," Kira assured him. "It is hard to refuse that boy anything," she finished with a small smile.

Josef's lips quirked slightly. He had hated taking Mick's mortality but he had not been able to resist his best friend's request.

"He does have the ability to get his way, doesn't he?"

"Yes," Kira agreed warmly. She rose and went to the bar. "There were no problems with the turning then?"

"He responded perfectly." Josef had trouble hiding the pride in his voice. "We went to Ander's lab and kicked some vampire ass. We rescued Blondie and the new ADA, and then called the Cleaner. All's well and the humans don't have a clue."

"Talbot didn't have questions?" she said in surprise.

"He was blindfolded and was very confused. He hit his head," Josef shrugged. He watched Kira closely as she poured them each a glass of blood with a liberal addition of scotch.

"You saw some action then? How did it feel to get your hands dirty?" she asked as she returned and handed him a glass.

"Good. Great rush," Josef admitted with a satisfied smile.

Kira moved to the bank of monitors and began to turn them off. Josef studied her, noticing how lovely she looked tonight in a sleeveless deep green dress. He realized that there was something different about her since she had returned to Los Angeles. There was a certain quiet strength about her that he hadn't noticed when he had visited her on occasion during her absence. It surprised him just how pleased he was to have her back in town. He frowned into his drink, not sure how to deal with the direction his thoughts were moving.

Kira noticed his serious expression and decided to lighten his mood.

"So does this make Mick my brother, Dad?" she teased.

"I'm not Mick's sire," Josef snorted. "I only sped up the re-turning process." He shook his head at her and took a swallow of his drink. "And we are well past the fledgling/sire stage my dear. No more "Dad" talk, okay?"

"If you insist Josef," Kira said with a bright smile. She re-seated herself beside him. "So where is my little brother now?"

"Kira….." the warning rumbled in Josef's chest. She laughed in delight and kissed his cheek. She was pleased to have chased his glum expression away.

"How did Mick deal with reverting? Is he all right?" she asked.

"He saved his lady love and he's with her now. I don't think he has any regrets at the moment," Josef replied.

"I wish they had more time with him human," Kira murmured.

"They will adjust. Coraline was wrong to ever dangle the cure in front of him. She has always had a talent for messing him up," Josef said in disgust.

"I should have dealt with her when she showed up here the other night," Kira grumbled.

Josef cocked his head and looked at her in surprise.

"Didn't I tell you to stay away from her?" he scolded.

"She came to me. She was trying to use me to get information from you. I think she wanted to know if Lance was in town and looking for her. I told her to talk you herself. And I warned her to leave Beth alone. She stormed out," Kira answered. She smiled in satisfaction at the memory of Coraline's frustration. "I can handle myself."

"Of course you can," Josef agreed taking her hand and squeezing it lightly. "Lance took her away and frankly I'm glad they're gone. We don't need that drama."

Kira smiled but didn't say anything. Josef might claim he was glad the drama was over but she recognized the light in his eyes when he spoke of the fight in Ander's lab. He was proud of his part in Beth's rescue.

End chapter.

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